Charting Complex Numbers

**ancog** · 09-02-2020, 06:45 AM

I was wondering if there is a way to chart complex numbers in Excel.

I attached an excel file with random complex numbers, that I tried to graph, and found that if I tried to graph them, I didn't get the real and imaginary components graphed. Is there either a way to graph complex numbers, or a formula that outputs only the real or imaginary component of a complex number?

**Andy Pope** · 09-02-2020, 07:54 AM

The internet suggest you would use a xy scatter with real part on horizontal axis and imaginary part on vertical axis.

The example has formula to break up the value but if you know the two parts of the number you could just plot those

**MrShorty** · 09-02-2020, 08:55 AM

One thing I would add to Andy's explanation is that Excel has built in IMREAL() and IMAGINARY() functions for separating complex numbers into real and imaginary components that seem easier to use than text manipulation functions. Instead of LEFT(...FIND(...)), column C could be =IMREAL(A1) and column D could be =IMAGINARY(A1).

If you find yourself working with complex numbers, it would probably be valuable to review the built in IM...() functions so you know what functions Excel has for working with complex numbers.